All-Time Favorite NFL Players

[IMissMattStover]

Ok this is just for people to list their favorite players and why. Any postition. So here are some of mine.

QB-Johnny Unitas
PlaceKicker - Matt Stover
LB - Ray Lewis
FS-Ed Reed

It may seem biased since they all played for Baltimore (though Unitas was with the Baltimore Colts) but they are just genuinely the players I love. I even have a Matt Stover Jersey because he is my alltime favorite. Oh, theres an idea. List your favorite players for certain positions, and then your favorite overall.

[berad]

Good topic, so many to choose from

I'm a huge Ray Lewis fan, he's got to be #1

I also like, in no particular order, Michael Strahan, Matt Stover, Warren Moon, Donovan McNabb, Jerry Rice, Ed Reed, Donovin Darius (random, right?), Jon Ogden, Lorenzo Neal, Antonio Gates, and a few other ones that I'll probably add on later..

I'll throw in OJ Brigance, too, because while nothing spectacular as a player, he's one of my favorite people. An inspiration.

[IMissMattStover]

I like your picture. Yeah, i forgot about Jonathan Ogden. Slipped my mind, how did i manage that. Yeah, I love him too. That is pretty Random, but not totally out there. I also like John Elway. on the other hand, the players i cant stand are Roethlessburger, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, TO(Mostly Because he scorned us for others), and Ochocinco. Also Tom Brady.

[Ed_Reed20]

I'll do "retired/deceased" list and "current players" list.

[b][u]Retired/deceased[/u][/b]:

Sean Taylor
Deion Sanders
Ronnie Lott
Jerry Rice
Rod Woodson
Rod Smith
Marcus Allen

[b][u]Currently playing[/u][/b]:

Andre Johnson
Ed Reed
Nnamdi Asomugha
Clinton Portis
Fred Jackson
Eric Berry
Roddy White

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1287451660' post='513225']
Good topic, so many to choose from

I'm a huge Ray Lewis fan, he's got to be #1

I also like, in no particular order, Michael Strahan, Matt Stover, Donovan McNabb, Jerry Rice, Ed Reed, [b]Donovan Darius (random, right?)[/b], Jon Ogden, Lorenzo Neal, Antonio Gates, and a few other ones that I'll probably add on later..
[/quote]

The man could lay the lumber. Here's a highlight video I'm somewhat amazed has been posted:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw4HyiHdrp8[/media]

[berad]

[quote name='IMissMattStover' timestamp='1287452044' post='513231']
I like your picture. Yeah, i forgot about Jonathan Ogden. Slipped my mind, how did i manage that. Yeah, I love him too. That is pretty Random, but not totally out there. I also like John Elway. on the other hand, the players i cant stand are Roethlessburger, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, TO(Mostly Because he scorned us for others), and Ochocinco. Also Tom Brady.
[/quote]

Ugh, Manning, I've got some dislike there! Haha. I also can't stand Brees but that's more of the media making him the "golden child" than anything else. I don't like over-hyped players.. on other teams of course

[IMissMattStover]

Interesting list. You certainly jumped off the bandwagon and had a few out there. How many years did Sanders play for us? Im thinking 2-3 but i cant remember. I know he "unretired" in 2004 for us, but i cant remember how long he lasted. Speaking of him, did you all see how on the NFL network, they listed thetop 100 players? Sanders was 34, and they ad him live. All he did was complain and whine about how he should be 3 or 4. It was so pathetic.

[berad]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287452366' post='513238']
The man could lay the lumber. Here's a highlight video I'm somewhat amazed has been posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw4HyiHdrp8
[/quote]

Jeez, didn't realize he blew up so many Ravens hahaha.

But, yes, that's what I'm talking about! That's how you play the strong safety position in the NFL! One of the most dominating physical presences I can remember back that, hearkening back to a Lott or a Harrison. Taylor (RIP) was making a case and Polamalu, while less of a big-hitter, is making a claim, too.

[Ed_Reed20]

The hits on Ward and Moss are the best. Ward was just enveloped and Moss could've caught the ball but saw Darius coming after him.

Some of those pass break-ups were sweet plays too.

[berad]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287453030' post='513252']
The hits on Ward and Moss are the best. Ward was just enveloped and Moss could've caught the ball but saw Darius coming after him.

Some of those pass break-ups were sweet plays too.
[/quote]

Randy Moss was just scared, wow, nice video!

Brandon Merriweather could learn a thing or two from Darius. Didn't see a dirty hit in there. He took out Jerome Bettis single-handedly! Multiple times!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1287453413' post='513260']
Randy Moss was just scared, wow, nice video!

Brandon Merriweather could learn a thing or two from Darius. Didn't see a dirty hit in there. He took out Jerome Bettis single-handedly! Multiple times!
[/quote]

I didn't see a dirty hit either; just well-timed, well-placed, textbook shots. Even his form tackles(like the one Young) were hard and crisp.

[IMissMattStover]

Sorry, my internet died. Anyway. Yeah, i hate it when players are overhyped. and i dont think we have any overhyped ones. Ray Lewis gets a LOT of attention, but he has earned it. He is legitamately a good player. Manning and co. win a few super bowls and make some good plays, and the media focuses on them and makes then larger than life. Ugghh...

[BloodRaven]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAeo4ZqHC2c[/media]

[George70]

I will admit to "Sweetness" being one whom I respected and enjoyed watching.

Another all-time favorite player I admire is "Concrete" Chuck Bednarik; when one sees the footage of his hit on Frank Gifford from 1960, one will fear what Bednarik could do to a person on the field.

Finally, I bring up my all-time favorite player to play for a Baltimore team: Art Donovan, alias "Little Arthur". Good player, big time hitter on the Colt teams which won the NFL Championships in 1958 and '59. One of the greatest storytellers in pro football history. He even influenced my handle here in these forums, George70.

Those are among my favorites.

[MsMarvel73]

My favorite Ravens all-time:

Jonathan Ogden...I fell totally head over heels for him after I met him at a meet and greet a few years back (there's a truly hysterical story behind it. Feel free to send a PM and ask). Always loved him wired up. As Michael Strahan said, he was a laugher. Miss you, JO!

Tony Siragusa
Ray Lewis
Peter Boulware

Favorites all-time non-Ravens:

Johnny Unitas
Gino Marchetti
Jim Kelly
Andre Reed

And they're all I can think of right now.

[Shawn`]

There's nobody that I like truly enjoy watching play the game than Ed Reed.

Sure, Ray Lewis is great but if the NFL decided to focus a camera on Ed Reed for the whole game, I'd be on that.

[MKdave]

Donovin Darius was Bad***. Loved him.
I'd have to say my top 3 are Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, D Mase, in that order.

Some of the other guys I like/d: Samari Rolle, Troy P, Brian Dawkins, Chad OC, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Irvin, Derrick Thomas, Rod Woodson, Michael Pittman (for the guns), Deacon Jones (way before my time but everything I've seen from him and his play, I'm a big fan of) Darnell Dockett, Lo Neal, Barry Sanders.

[Jamal]

Currently in the NFL, my favorite has to be Andre Johnson. Forget WR, he has to be in discussion of one of the best players in the NFL.

Some other are:
-Nnamdi Asomugha
-Tom Brady (yes I'm serious)
-Ed Reed (had to redeem myself)

All-time:
-Barry Sanders
-LT (LB)
-Jerry Rice
-Steve Young
-John Elway

[Purple Nurple]

I loved watching Barry Sanders run.

[flynismo]

In no particular order, my man crushes are:Randy Moss, Ray Ray, Ed Reed, Dan Marino, Steve Young, Michael Irvin, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, Peter Boulware, C-Mac, Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin.Was supposed to be my top 10, but I just couldnt bring myself to exclude any of them!

[BloodRaven]

Watching that Darius video is a trip, for the slowest safety I've ever seen the guy closes on a ballcarrier like a lightning bolt.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1287517630' post='514022']
Watching that Darius video is a trip, for the slowest safety I've ever seen the guy closes on a ballcarrier like a lightning bolt.
[/quote]

I don't think Darius was as slow as Rodney Harrison. His closing speed was amazing though.

[IMissMattStover]

Well, for many positions, speed is everything. The guy had it.

[Nadkins52]

ray lewis, ray rice, flacco, montana, rice, irvin,sanders, payton and more.....

[ZIBBY28]

favorite non-raven was Sean Taylor, hands down... I wonder what he's thinking about these fines/suspensions for helmet to helmet hits up there lol

one of many:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGsutVPOXw[/media]